i definately train for function...i train for life and for my one "bad habit": i want to be the best...i feel like i can't live up to the thousands of people out there but that doesn't stop me...i want to be the best at everything i do...i feel this makes me selfish although some say otherwise...it's just me...and to me, every single activity one does can be linked to needing conditioning...that is my opinion of course.

No but seriously. A good "final" goal for me, would be to be able to function on my own until the very end. I don't want to get in such a bad shape when I get old that I can no longer take care of myself on my own.

For now, being healthy is goal enough. I haven't really given short term goals much thought really - throughout the soon 17 years I've been active, I've mostly just enjoyed MA and its associated culture and history in itself, without any particular goals.

Then again, enlightenment might be my ultimate goal. When the spirit, thought and body merge and function as one. Yep, that's my goal.

I have been in and out of weight training since about 1972.Things change in the way of nutrition, supplements, and equipment

I stand 5'7", weight about 190 and had two trainers.

One trainer happened to be one of my MA instructors whom trained as a boxer, then Jujitsu/Judo (before the current fad), and Karate Do. He had introduce me to other instructors who, at that time, train people privately and through referrals. The other weight trainer I had was way younger than I, but he was into body building, won some competitions, went to college to learn about physical therapy and nutrionalist. He his currenty a personal trainer in California, did some cameo and "extra" acting in a few movies.

My goal, with weight training, is to help my 74 year old dad get back to a little training. We had, about two months ago, signed into a gym together.

I've honestly never really cared too greatly about having a lot of strength/power. I didn't want to be dependent on it. Perhaps my thinking was flawed, but it was what it was.

After a shoulder injury (second one to the same shoulder) and the fact that I am 41 and want to continue grappling for a long time, I've decided to (re)embark on my conditioning routine (into my 4th week).

I don't honestly care that much about aesthectics although I would never complain if I looked like the guy on the "Mens's Health" cover. I doubt anyone would. My concern has always been about function.

My function however is centered around Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which isn't really based on overpowering people, so it's a little different in that regard.

However like I said, I'm 4 weeks in and my opinion could possibly change. I'm just enjoying the ride for now and thought I would chime in.

I definitely love adding more weight when I train, but I also enjoy being able to easily see my gains in the mirror. My eating habits are for performance, my workout habits are for performance and appearance.

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I'm the captain of my fate, I'm the master of my soul.

I want pure strength and power from my body. I don't train to impress girls or stuff like that, I think that would be kinda pathetic.

Of course, I stay away from drugs and steroids, and stuff like that. What I want is pure natural strength and power, something I can be proud of, not something I achieved thanks to drugs. And thankfully, I never touched any kind of drugs or similar stuff. No one needs that to be strong